THE KABBALAH OF TIME:
Kahane and Wainer explain that the calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand basic mystical concepts. When comprehended within the context of the Jewish calendar, these works reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Week 24 (Book 4b): the Intoxicating Power of Food and Drink

SONG OF SONGS:

9. "What is your beloved more than another
beloved, O fairest of women? What is your beloved more than another beloved,
that you have so adjured us?"

10. "My beloved is white and ruddy, surrounded by
myriads.

11. His head is as the finest gold; his locks are
curled, [they are as] black as a raven.

SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Issachar

TALMUD
SHEVUOTH: DAF 23 – Oaths on Forbidden Foods

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 24

Week 24 in
the Jewish calendar is the week of Purim.
The verses of Shir HaShirim of this
week speaks of the “fairest of women,” a likely reference to Queen Esther, who
was chosen above all the women of the Persian Empire. The reference to Israel’s
Beloved being white and “ruddy,” appears to be connected to the wine of
Purim. (See Week 23, Book 4a: “Do not
look at wine when it is red; when he puts his eye on the cup, it goes smoothly.”
(Proverbs 23:31))

Of the
seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-fourth mentioned
is Issachar. Issachar was conceived on the night that Rachel exchanged for the dudayim of Leah. The intoxicating nature
of the dudayim seem to parallel the
intensity of Purim, which is brought
about as well through physical intoxication.

DafKaf Dalet (Folio 24) of Shvuot continues to discuss forbidden
foods, and speaks about how one can violate more than one law in a single act
of eating. One of the main points of contention of the Purim story was the fact that the Jews partook of Achashverosh’s festive
meal.

Chapter 24 of the Book of Jeremiah
contains a similar theme to the above. It speaks about duda’ey te’enim, translated as “pots of figs,” but which literally
mean dudayim of figs. Some of the
figs could be eaten – others not at all. This dichotomy, especially between the
very good (Mordechai) and the very bad (Haman) is also symbolic of Adar. In this case, Jeremiah’s vision is
referring to those that willingly go to exile in Babylon, and those that
stubbornly decide to stay in the Land of Israel.

1. The Lord showed me two pots of figs, prepared before the Temple of the Lord
after Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, had exiled Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim
king of Judah and the princes of Judah and the craftsmen and the sentries of
the gates from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon.

2. One pot [contained] very good figs like the first ripe figs, and the other pot
[contained] very bad figs
that could not be eaten because they were so bad. (…)

The end of this chapter also has
language very similar to Haazinu’s
verse for Week 24 in Book 2: “They will sprout hair from famine,
attacked by demons, excised by Meriri.
I will incite the teeth of livestock upon them, with the venom of creatures
that slither in the dust.” (Deuteronomy 32:24)

10. And I will send forth the sword, the famine, and
the pestilence against them until they are consumed from upon the land that I
gave them and their forefathers.

Rebbe Yisrael Taub and his son, Shaul Yedidya Elazer Taub, the First and Second Rebbes of Modzitz

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The date also marks the yahrzeit of emmissaries Gavriel Noach and Rivky Holzberg, who died "Al Kidush Hashem" (sanctifying G-d's Holy Name), as well as the Rebbe's miraculous recovery from a massive heart attack.

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Burial Place of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch

His yahrzeit (and birthday) is on Tuesday, the 9th of Kislev. The following day, the 10th of Kislev, is celebrated as the day of his personal redemption.